Peter Gavin Collection – The Radio Officers' Association

Peter’s brief nautical history

Peter attended Atlantic College, Dublin from Sept. 1964 to April 1965 where he emerged with a First Class RO cert plus B City & Guilds. He was offered a position by Marconi (North Wall) Dublin but could not be assigned to a ship due to the British Seamen’s Strike which lasted from May 16^th to July 3^rd 1966 . He was assigned to his first ship mv City of Eastbourne (Ellerman Lines) and joined as Junior RO on the 20^th July 1966. His photo in Blues relates to that ship. Signed off on the 11.11.1966. Next ship was the Shell Tanker st Hadriania and served as Junior RO from 11.12.1966 to 9.2.1967. His photo in whites relates to this ship. He finally left Marconi on 15.8 1969 and attended a Radar Course at the College of Technology, Kevin St. Dublin from September 1969 (at his own expense!) to January 1970. All the Radar Class photos relate to this period.

Obtained his first Freelance assignment on the ST Golden Jay 16.2.1970 and finally signed off on 01.06.1971. All the Golden Jay photos including Radio rooms relate to this period. The Golden Jay was the ex Esso Canterbury and all the radio equipment was Marconi Marine which made this trip a very smooth transition from MIMCO to freelance! He has written extensively about this period in the March QSO under the heading Golden Days on the Golden Jay and hopes to have a few future articles on some other ships. He served on another 3 ships as freelance RO until he finally swallowed the anchor in March 1973.Peter has advised me that he has a good stock of photos buried in an attic in Ireland and we look forward to receiving those to add to this collection.

A selection of photos from Golden Jay/ZFOK the vessel sailed from the Caribbean/Panama Canal to Newfoundland and Canadian ports. 1. Nice catch off Aruba June 1970. We went fishing every chance we had in the Caribbean and in one night caught 0ver 200 edible fish which were kept in the freezer and we dined on Tuna/Bonito steaks for weeks.

Taken as were in a lock of the Panama Canal. I used my whites from British Flag vessels as my tropical gear freelance.

Relaxing in my spacious cabin. This was my best ship accom wise.

4. Checking the Radar alignment. I was responsible for everything electronic on the ship (except engine room)

Relaxing before we entered the Panama Canal.

6. Icebergs were a constant hazard on our trips to Montreal Quebec and Newfoundland. They normally drifted down the east coast of NF into the Gulf of St Lawrence and the North Atlantic.

Dec. 1970 – During the winter months we used the ice breaker John Cabot to get us into and out of the smaller harbours around Newfoundland. Sometimes we were stuck for days until they arrived.

Leaving St Johns when the ice had melted. It was always a joy to leave the cold northern waters and head south to the warm Caribbean.

Steaming through the lakes in the Panama canal.

10. Entering St Johns after the ice had been broken. The pilots launch is ahead and the icebreaker forward right.

Steaming up the St Lawrence near Montreal. There was always great competition to be the first ship up when the ice started to melt although the river could be quite shallow in places at this time.

Moving from cold to warmer waters. Change of gear!

Raising the antennas after they snapped due to the weight of ice.

The galley and mess were located aft and we had to run the gauntlet of heavy seas if we wanted to eat!

Leaving the Caribbean and heading North!

The Xmas card I received from Halifax Radio. We worked a lot of traffic through them on our regular voyages north and south and they appreciated the business. Never got to visit them though.

Now, how to switch an Atalanta on must be here somewhere.

Peter in blues on his first ship City of Eastbourne/GHNU

City of Eastbourne/GHNU. Photo source Unknown.

In whites this time on his second trip on Shell tanker Hadriania/GSWD

Hadriania/GSWD in what looks like it may be a Skyfotos photo.

In 1969 Peter took his radar maintenance certificate at Kevin Street College in Dublin.
The list adjoining shows the names of the students and the four pictures below give some excellent memories of the course.

Kevin Street Radar Cert Class – Sept 1969 to Jan 1970. Lecturer John Mahon

Peter Gavin             Martin Mooney
Dick Hanlon             Larry Kelly
Mike Bulger              Martin Lynch
Phil O’Donnell           Phillip Pak
Pat Hennessey          Eamonn McGuffin
Brian Phelin               Patrick Tracey
Alan Roche                Vincent Cullen

One Reply to “Peter Gavin Collection”

clive says:

April 4, 2022 at 2:59 pm

i sailed with shell for 34 years never met many of the roa members
many changes from r/0 to Electronics Officer, to ELECTRO TECHNICAL OFFICER.
Had to take a class 4 engineers ticket to become an eto which caused many
ex r/os to leave the sea.

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Peter’s brief nautical history

Kevin Street Radar Cert Class – Sept 1969 to Jan 1970. Lecturer John Mahon

One Reply to “Peter Gavin Collection”

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